Hygiene compliance module

ABSTRACT

A hygiene compliance module is configured to be retrofit with a compatible dispenser to enable hygiene compliance monitoring functions. The hygiene compliance module is configured to be coupled to the dispenser via a communication interface to receive power, ground, and dispenser actuation signals therefrom. In addition, the hygiene compliance module is enabled to communicate with a wireless data tag that is worn by a user of the dispenser and with a remote hygiene compliance monitoring station.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to dispensers, such as soapdispensers. Particularly, the present invention relates to hygienecompliance modules that are capable of being retrofit with existingdispensers to enable hygiene compliance monitoring functions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Recently, the public has become increasingly concerned with disease andits transmission, and such, there is an increased awareness of theimportance of cleansing and hygiene in general. For example, withrespect to the transmission of E. coli in the food services industry,the rhinovirus in elementary schools, and nosocomial diseases withinhealthcare facilities, numerous studies have cited hand hygiene as aneffective measure to guard against disease transmission. In response,the health care industry, the food services industry, and the hotel andtravel industries have been forced to examine their protocols andprocedures to ensure that their personnel are adopting hand sanitizinghabits that are efficacious in the prevention of disease transmission.

In response, as an effort to provide sufficient opportunities forindividuals to have access to soap and sanitizers, many institutions andindustries have increased the number of installed dispensers to allowindividuals to clean and sanitize their hands. And while theavailability of soap and sanitizers has increased the opportunities forindividuals to wash or sanitize their hands, there is still a lack ofcompliance with predetermined hand washing hygiene standards.Furthermore, in order to minimize the potential transmission of bacteriaor viruses by hand washing, full compliance with hygiene standards mustbe observed, as the failure of one individual to properly sanitize hisor her hands can negate the efforts of others who come in contact withsuch individuals.

In order to achieve the desired level of hygiene compliance, manyinstitutions have employed hygiene compliance monitoring systems thatinclude dispensers that are capable of tracking the usage of thedispenser for identified individuals. Unfortunately, for entities with alarge number of existing dispensers already installed, which lackhygiene compliance monitoring functionality, it would require thecomplete replacement of those dispensers with new dispensers that havehygiene compliance features, which is costly, and in many circumstancesunfeasible.

Therefore, there is a need for a hygiene compliance module that can beretrofit with previously installed dispensers to provide hygienecompliance monitoring features. In addition, there is a need for ahygiene compliance module that can be retrofit in a user-friendly mannerwith an existing dispenser to provide hygiene compliance monitoringfunctionality. Furthermore, there is a need for a hygiene compliancemodule that can be retrofit with previously installed dispensers andthat is powered by the power source provided by the dispenser to whichit is attached. There is also a need for a hygiene compliance modulethat when retrofit with a previously installed dispenser is enabled ordisabled depending on whether the hygiene compliance module has beenauthenticated by the dispenser.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In light of the foregoing, it is a first aspect of the present inventionto provide a hygiene compliance module for a dispenser having adispenser controller that supplies an actuation signal to acommunication interface when an actuator is engaged to dispensematerial, the hygiene compliance module comprising a card adapted to becoupled to the communication interface of the dispenser; a modulecontroller disposed on said card, said module controller configured todetect the actuation signal as dispensing event data; and a transmitterand receiver coupled to said module controller, said receiver configuredto wirelessly receive an identification code from a wireless data tag,wherein when the actuator of the dispenser is engaged, said modulecontroller associates said identification code of said data tag withsaid dispensing event data and transmits said code and said dispensingevent data via said transmitter to a hygiene compliance monitoringstation.

It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a method ofenabling hygiene compliance monitoring functionality at a dispensercomprising providing a dispenser having a communication interface havingan actuation terminal, coupling a hygiene compliance module to saidcommunication interface, providing a data tag that wirelessly transmitsan identification code to said hygiene compliance module, monitoringsaid actuation terminal at said hygiene compliance module, dispensingmaterial from said dispenser, detecting an actuation signal on saidactuation terminal at said hygiene compliance module as dispensing eventdata, and associating said identification code with said dispensingevent data.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a hygienecompliance module for a dispenser having a dispenser controller thatsupplies an actuation signal to a communication interface when anactuator is engaged to dispense material, the hygiene compliance modulecomprising a card adapted to be coupled to the communication interfaceof the dispenser; a module controller disposed on said card, said modulecontroller configured to detect the actuation signal as dispensing eventdata; and a transmitter coupled to said module controller, wherein whenthe dispenser actuator is engaged, said module controller transmits saiddispensing event data via said transmitter to a monitoring station.

It is a further aspect of the present invention to provide a hygienecompliance module having a communication interface that is configured inaccordance with a configuration code, and a dispenser controllerproviding an actuation signal to the communication interface when anactuator is engaged to dispense material, the hygiene compliance modulecomprising a card adapted to be coupled to the communication interfaceof the dispenser; a module controller disposed on said card, said modulecontroller configured to be modified in accordance with saidconfiguration code to compatibly communicate with the dispenser throughthe communication interface; and a transmitter coupled to said modulecontroller, wherein when the dispenser actuator is engaged said modulecontroller detects the actuation signal as dispensing event data, andsaid module controller transmits said dispensing event data via saidtransmitter to a monitoring station.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the present invention willbecome better understood with regard to the following description,appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a hygiene compliance module inaccordance with the concepts of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rear portion of the hygienecompliance module in accordance with the concepts of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the hygiene compliance module with itsrear cover attached and its front cover removed in accordance with theconcepts of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the hygiene compliance module having itsfront and rear covers attached thereto in accordance with the conceptsof the present invention;

FIG. 5 is another perspective view of the hygiene compliance modulehaving its front and rear covers attached thereto in accordance with theconcepts of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the dispenser compatible for use with thehygiene compliance module in accordance with the concepts of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a dispenser configured to be retrofitwith the hygiene compliance module in accordance with the concepts ofthe present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the dispenser having the hygienecompliance module attached thereto in accordance with the concepts ofthe present invention;

FIG. 9A is an elevational view of the dispenser showing a communicationinterface to enable the retrofit connection of the hygiene compliancemodule in accordance with the concepts of the present invention;

FIG. 9B is an elevational view of the dispenser showing the hygienecompliance module coupled to the communication interface of thedispenser in accordance with the concepts of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the dispenser that allows the retrofithygiene compliance module to wirelessly communicate data therethrough inaccordance with the concepts of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A hygiene compliance module is generally referred to by the numeral 10,as shown in FIGS. 1-6 of the drawings. The hygiene compliance module 10comprises a riser card 20 having opposed inner and outer surfaces 30Aand 30B, and a main card 40 that has opposed inner and outer surfaces50A and 50B. The riser card 20 and the main card 40, which comprises acircuit board, are coupled together in a manner to be discussed. Itshould be appreciated, however, that the riser and main cards 20,40 maybe made integral to form a single, unified, card structure. The risercard 20 includes an edge connector 52 comprising a plurality ofelectrical contacts 60A-H that are respectively coupled to pins 70A-H.The pins 70A-H extend through the riser card 20 and extend at asubstantially right angle, so as to be substantially parallel to theinner surface 30A of the riser card 20, where the pins 70A-H areterminated at respective connection blocks 80A-H provided by the maincard 40. The connection blocks 80A-H support respective pins 60A-H andallow them to extend into corresponding contact apertures 90A-H that areprovided by the main card 40. As such, the contact apertures 90A-Helectrically couple the edge connector 52 contacts 60A-H to variouselectrical components provided by the hygiene compliance module 10 to bediscussed. Specifically, the edge connector 52 of the riser card 20 isconfigured to connect to a communication interface 100, such as acommunication port, so as to access the power, ground, and actuationsignals provided by a dispenser 110, such as a soap dispenser shown inFIG. 6, to enable various hygiene compliance monitoring functionsprovided by the module 10 to be discussed. In one aspect, the contacts60A, 60G, and 60H are configured to receive respective ground, power,and actuation signals that are provided by the communication interface100.

Disposed on the outer surface 50B of the main card 40 is a modulecontroller 200 that is configured with the necessary hardware, software,and/or memory that is needed to carry out the functions to be discussed.In addition to being coupled to the contacts 60A-H of the edge connector52, the module controller 200 is coupled to an IR (infrared) receiver210, an IR (infrared) transmitter 212, and to a RF (radio frequency)transceiver 220. As such, the IR receiver 210 and the RF transceiver 220are configured to wirelessly communicate with a data tag 250, such as anRFID (radio frequency identification) tag, that is worn by anindividual, and a remote hygiene compliance monitoring station 252, asshown in FIG. 10. The data tag 250 and the monitoring station 252 may beconfigured to transmit and/or receive IR or RF signals that arecompatible with the operation of the compliance module 10. In addition,the hygiene compliance monitoring station 252 may comprise any suitablecomputing system that is configured to acquire and organize the hygienecompliance data that is wirelessly transferred from the compliancemodule 10. Alternatively, the hygiene compliance monitoring station 252may be configured to transmit setting data to the compliance module 10and/or dispenser 110 to change or otherwise modify one or more of theiroperating parameters. Moreover, it also contemplated that the compliancemodule 10 may communicate with the data tag 250 and the monitoringstation 252 using only RF signals, only IR signals or any combinationthereof, and as such, only the particular IR or RF transmitters andreceivers necessary for transmitting and receiving the particularcommunication signals needed to carry out the functions discussed hereinare provided by the compliance module 10. In one aspect, it should beappreciated that the RF transceiver 220 may be configured as an RFtransmitter only.

The main card 40 also includes a pair of visual indicators 260 and 270,which comprises LEDs (light emitting diodes) or any other suitableindication means, including an audible indication means, such as a tonegenerator. Specifically, the indicator 260 provides a visual or audibleprompt to identify when the data tag 250 is recognized or authenticatedby the module controller 200, while indicator 270 provides a visualprompt to identify when the dispenser 110 has dispensed material to anindividual wearing the data tag 250.

The hygiene compliance module 10 includes a protective housing 280 thatis comprised of front and rear covers 300 and 310, as shown in FIGS. 1and 3-5, which serve to enclose the main card 40 and a portion of theriser card 20. The front cover 300 includes a transparent, or at leastpartially transparent, viewing window 350 that allows an individual toview the indicators 260 and 270. In addition, the viewing window 350 isalso configured to be electrically transparent to the passage ofwireless IR (infrared) and RF (radio frequency) signals that arecommunicated to and from the hygiene compliance module 10. The front andrear covers 300 and 310 are retained together using any suitable meansof fixation, including screws or adhesive for example. It should beappreciated that the protective housing 280 may be formed from anysuitable material, such as plastic for example.

The hygiene compliance module 10 is configured to be retrofit with thedispenser 110, as shown in FIGS. 6-10, which may include a soap,sanitizer, or moisturizer dispenser for example, although the dispenser110 may be configured to dispense any suitable material. The dispenser110 is configured to dispense liquid material from a replaceable refillcontainer 400 that is removably attached to the dispenser 110. Therefill container 400 may contain any desired material, such as soap,sanitizer, or moisturizer for example. The dispenser 110 includes acontroller 410 that provides the necessary hardware and/or softwareneeded to carry out the functions to be discussed. The controller 410 iscoupled to an actuator 420, which may comprise a biometric sensor orproximity sensor that is capable of automatically detecting the presenceof an individual's hands. The actuator 420 may also comprise amechanical switch or button that is configured to be manually depressedby an individual. The dispenser 110 also includes a pump 430 that iscoupled to the controller 410, which is controlled to dispense apredetermined amount of liquid material from the refill container 400that is fluidly coupled thereto when the actuator 420 is engaged. Forexample, in the case where the actuator 420 comprises a proximitysensor, the controller 410 causes the pump 430 to dispense an amount ofliquid material from the refill container 400 when the actuator 420detects the presence of the individual's hands.

The dispenser 110 is powered by a power source 440, such as a battery,or may be powered by any other suitable power source, such as a solarcell or A.C. (alternating current) mains power provided by an electricaloutlet.

To facilitate the retrofitting of the hygiene compliance module 10 withthe dispenser 110 the communication interface 100 is utilized.Specifically, the communication interface 100 is coupled to thecontroller 410 of the dispenser 110 and, as such, provides an electricalinterface for accessing power, ground, and actuation terminals 460, 470,and 480 that provide corresponding signals thereon generated from thecontroller 410 during the operation of the dispenser 110. As such, whenthe edge connector 52 of the module 10 is inserted into thecommunication interface 100, the contacts 60A, 60G, and 60H coupleground, power and actuation signals supplied by respective terminals460,470,480 to the module controller 200 of the hygiene compliancemodule 10. It should also be appreciated that contacts 60B-F areutilized by the controller 200 of the hygiene compliance module 10 forauthentication purposes to ensure that the dispense controller 410communicates only with authorized compliance modules 10 for which thedispenser 110 and compliance module 10 have been configured. Such asystem, discussed in further detail below, prevents unauthorizedcompliance modules 10 or any other electric device inserted into thecommunication interface 100 from communicating with the dispensecontroller 410.

With the basic operation of the dispenser 110 set forth, the followingdiscussion will now present the manner in which the hygiene compliancemodule 10 is retrofit with the dispenser 110. Specifically, thecompliance module 10 is interfaced or otherwise plugged into thedispenser 110, such that the edge connector 52, having electricalcontacts 60A-H, is received within the communication interface 100, asshown in FIGS. 7-10, allowing the module 10 to be in electricalcommunication with the controller 410. Once the compliance module 10 iscoupled to the communication interface 100 of the dispenser 110, thecompliance module 10 is able to access the power, ground, and actuationsignals provided by corresponding terminals 460,470,480 of the dispenser110. In particular, the hygiene compliance module 10 is powered by thepower and ground signals provided on terminals 460,480 of thecommunication interface 100 that are coupled to the power source 440 andthe controller 410 of the dispenser 110. Additionally, the actuationsignal provided on terminal 470 of the communication interface 100,which is generated by the dispenser controller 410 to actuate the pump430 to dispense material when the actuator 420 is engaged, is processedby the module 10 and used to carry out various hygiene compliancemonitoring functions to be discussed. It should also be appreciated thatin lieu of the use of a separate actuation signal (and contact 60H) thatis generated by the dispenser controller 410 when a dispensing eventoccurs, the dispenser controller 410 may be configured to selectivelysupply power to the hygiene compliance module 10 to indicate when adispensing event occurs. As such, the compliance module 10 would bepowered and made operational to carry out the functions discussed hereineach time a dispensing event takes place.

The hygiene compliance module 10 is configured to collect and sharehygiene compliance data through wireless communication with the wirelessdata tag 250, such as an RFID (radio frequency identification) tag orother communication device, and the remote hygiene compliance station252. In particular, the wireless data tag 250 is configured to be wornby an individual, such as a healthcare giver, who is engaging with thedispenser 110 to dispense an amount of material on his or her hands.When the individual wearing the data tag 250 engages the actuator 420provided by the dispenser 110 to dispense material therefrom, thedispenser controller 410 generates an actuation signal. The actuationsignal is used to actuate the pump 430 to complete the dispensing ofmaterial, and is also carried by the terminal 480 of the communicationinterface 100 to the module controller 200 of the hygiene compliancemodule 10. The receipt of the actuation signal via the communicationinterface 100 indicates to the compliance module 10 that a dispensingevent in which an individual has dispensed material from the refillcontainer 400 has occurred. Once the actuation signal is received by thecompliance module controller 200, the unique identification codeassociated with each data tag 250 is wirelessly acquired via the IRreceiver 210 (in the case of an IR transmitting data tag 250) or RFtransceiver 220 (in the case of an RF transmitting data tag 250) andcombined or otherwise associated with dispensing event data indicatingthat a dispensing event occurred before it is wirelessly communicatedvia the IR transmitter 212 or RF transceiver 220 as hygiene compliancedata to the remote hygiene compliance monitoring station 252.Alternatively, the compliance module 10 may be configured to collecthygiene compliance data in an anonymous manner, such that the compliancemodule 10 does not associate the identification code of the data tag 250with dispensing event data.

Moreover, the compliance module 10 may be configured to communicate withthe data tag 250 in a 1-way manner in which the compliance module 10only receives data, such as an identification code, from the data tag250 or in a 2-way manner in which the compliance module 10 receives datafrom the data tag 250 and transmits data to the data tag 250. Similarly,the compliance module 10 may be configured to communicate with themonitoring station 252 in a 1-way manner in which the compliance module10 only transmits compliance data to the monitoring station 252 or in a2-way manner in which the compliance module 10 transmits hygienecompliance data to the monitoring station 252 and receives data, such asoperation setting data associated with the modification of functionsprovided by the module 10, from the monitoring station 252. For example,the compliance module 10 may be configured with only the IR receiver 210and an RF transmitter, such that the compliance module 10 receives datafrom the data tag 250 via the IR receiver 210, and forwards the data tothe compliance monitoring station 252 using the RF transmitter.

In addition, the indicators 260 and 270 are respectively configured toindicate when the compliance module 10 has authenticated the data tag250 as being authorized to access and use the dispenser 110, and whenthe dispenser 110 has completed a dispensing event. In one aspect, thehygiene compliance module 10 may acquire the unique identification codeassociated with the data tag 250 and wirelessly transmit it to theremote hygiene compliance monitoring station 252 for authenticationbefore the operation of the dispenser 110 is enabled. If the remotehygiene compliance monitoring station 252 authenticates the data tag 250identification code as being authorized, then it wirelessly transmits anauthorization code to the hygiene compliance module 10 that enables theoperation of the dispenser 110 for a limited period of time to allow theindividual to dispense material from the dispenser 110.

Furthermore, the contacts 60B-F of the compliance module 10 may beselectively connected to the power terminal 470 and the ground terminal460 of the dispenser 100. This allows the compliance module controller200 to generate a code, such as a 5-bit authentication code, that isreceived by the dispenser controller 410. The dispenser controller 410evaluates the authentication code against codes stored at the dispensercontroller 410 or at the compliance monitoring station 252 to determinewhether the code is valid or not. If the dispenser code 410 determinesthat the code is valid, the dispenser 110 and the compliance module 10will continue to remain operable. However, if the dispenser 110determines that the code is invalid, then the module 10 and/or dispenser100 may be either fully or partially disabled. For example, in the caseof an invalid code, the dispenser 110 may be partially disabled, suchthat the hygiene compliance module 10 interfaced therewith will not berecognized by the dispenser 100 or the functions provided by thecompliance module 10 may be limited. Thus, in the event that anunauthorized device is coupled to the interface 100, which fails togenerate a valid code, the device and/or dispenser 10 is fully orpartially disabled. Such a system is beneficial in that it preventsunauthorized compliance modules 10 from being used with the dispenser110.

In another aspect, the dispenser controller 410 may be configured togenerate a configuration code, such as a 5-bit code, that is suppliedthrough the interface 100 and received via contacts 60B-F coupled to themodule controller 200 of the compliance module 10. The configurationcode identifies the specific communication configuration that is to beutilized by the dispenser controller 410 during the communicationbetween the dispenser 110 and the compliance module 10. As such, themodule controller 200 must be able to interpret the meaning of theconfiguration code, and also be able to physically configure itsinternal components, such as the communication port coupled to contacts60B-F, so that the specific contacts 60B-F identified by theconfiguration code are used in the specific manner defined in theconfiguration code in order for compatible communication with thedispenser controller 410 to occur. Thus, if the module controller 200does not identify the correct contacts 60B-F to be used, and the correctfunction assigned to each contact 60B-F that is required for compatiblecommunication to occur with the dispenser 110 from the configurationcode received from the dispenser 110, then the compliance module 10 willbe unable to provide hygiene compliance functions to the dispenser 110.In addition, the configuration code supplied by the dispenser 110 may bechanged periodically by the dispenser 10 at predetermined or randomintervals, or may be changed each time data or electronic signals aresent to the compliance monitor 10. Moreover, by requiring the hardwarecomponents (contacts 60B-F) of the compliance module 10 to be configuredor utilized in a specific manner an added level of security is providedto further prevent unauthorized compliance modules from being interfacedwith the dispenser 110.

It will, therefore, be appreciated that one advantage of the presentinvention is that a hygiene compliance module is configured to beretrofit with an installed dispenser to provide hygiene compliancemonitoring functionality. Another advantage of the present invention isthat the hygiene compliance module can utilize the power source of adispenser when retrofit thereto. Yet another advantage of the presentinvention is that the hygiene compliance module can utilize theactuation signal of the dispenser in order to provide hygiene compliancemonitoring functions when retrofit thereto. Still another advantage ofthe present invention is that if an authorized hygiene compliance moduleis interfaced with a dispenser, the dispenser and/or hygiene compliancemodule may be fully or partially disabled.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detailwith reference to certain embodiments, other embodiments are possible.Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not belimited to the description of the embodiments contained herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hygiene compliance module for a dispenserhaving a dispenser controller that supplies an actuation signal to acommunication interface when an actuator is engaged to dispensematerial, the hygiene compliance module comprising: a card having aconnector, said connector adapted to be inserted in the communicationinterface of the dispenser, so as to be electrically coupled to thedispenser controller; a module controller disposed on said card andcoupled to said connector, wherein when said connector is inserted inthe communication interface of the dispenser, said module controllerenables hygiene compliance monitoring functions, such that said modulecontroller is configured to detect the actuation signal from thedispenser controller as dispensing event data; and a transmitter coupledto said module controller; wherein when the actuator of the dispenser isengaged, said transmitter transmits said dispensing event data to amonitoring station.
 2. The hygiene compliance module of claim 1, whereinsaid module controller includes an authentication code that is evaluatedby the dispenser, such that if the dispenser determines that saidauthentication code is invalid said module controller is at leastpartially disabled, and if said authentication code is valid said modulecontroller is fully enabled.
 3. The hygiene compliance module of claim2, wherein the operation of the dispenser is disabled until saidauthentication code is authenticated by said module controller.
 4. Thehygiene compliance module of claim 3, wherein said transmitter transmitssaid authentication code to said monitoring station for authentication.5. The hygiene compliance module of claim 2, further comprising: anindicator coupled to said module controller, said first indicatorindicating when said authentication code has been authenticated.
 6. Thehygiene compliance module of claim 1, further comprising: an indicatorcoupled to said module controller, said indicator indicating when saiddispensing event has been completed.
 7. The hygiene compliance module ofclaim 1, further comprising: a receiver coupled to said modulecontroller, said receiver configured to wirelessly receive anidentification code from a wireless data tag; wherein when the actuatorof the dispenser is engaged, said module controller associates saididentification code with said dispensing event data, said transmitterconfigured to transmit said identification code and said dispensingevent data to said hygiene compliance monitoring station.
 8. A method ofenabling hygiene compliance monitoring functionality at a dispensercomprising: providing a dispenser having a communication interfacehaving an actuation terminal that is electrically coupled to a dispensercontroller; providing a hygiene compliance module having a card with aconnector that is electrically coupled to a module controller; insertingsaid connector of said card in the communication interface, such thatsaid actuation terminal is electrically coupled to said modulecontroller, whereupon said hygiene compliance module enables hygienecompliance monitoring functions; providing a data tag that wirelesslytransmits an identification code to said hygiene compliance module;monitoring said actuation terminal at said module controller; dispensingmaterial from said dispenser; detecting an actuation signal on saidactuation terminal at said module controller as dispensing event data;and associating said identification code with said dispensing eventdata.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising: transmitting saididentification code and said associated dispensing event to a remotemonitoring station.
 10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:disabling operation of the dispenser; authenticating said identificationcode; and enabling operation of the dispenser if said identificationcode is authenticated.
 11. A hygiene compliance module for a dispenserhaving a dispenser controller that supplies an actuation signal to acommunication interface when an actuator is engaged to dispense materialfrom a container, the hygiene compliance module comprising: a cardhaving a connector, said connector adapted to be inserted in thecommunication interface of the dispenser, so as to be electricallycoupled to the dispenser controller; a module controller disposed onsaid card and coupled to said connector, wherein when said connector isinserted in the communication interface of the dispenser, said modulecontroller enables hygiene compliance monitoring functions, such thatsaid module controller is configured to detect the actuation signal fromthe dispenser controller as dispensing event data; and a transmittercoupled to said module controller; wherein when the dispenser actuatoris engaged, said transmitter transmits said dispensing event data to amonitoring station.
 12. The hygiene compliance module of claim 11,wherein said module controller includes an authentication code that isevaluated by the dispenser, such that if the dispenser determines thatsaid authentication code is invalid said module controller is at leastpartially disabled, and if said authentication code is valid saidcontroller is fully enabled.
 13. The hygiene compliance module of claim12, further comprising: an indicator coupled to said module controller,said indicator indicating when said authentication code has beenauthenticated.
 14. The hygiene compliance module of claim 11, furthercomprising: an indicator coupled to said module controller, saidindicator indicating when said dispensing event has been completed. 15.A hygiene compliance module having a communication interface that isconfigured in accordance with a configuration code set by a dispensercontroller, the dispenser controller also providing an actuation signalto the communication interface when an actuator is engaged to dispensematerial, the hygiene compliance module comprising: a card having aconnector, said connector adapted to be inserted in the communicationinterface of the dispenser, so as to be electrically coupled to thedispenser controller; a module controller disposed on said card andcoupled to said connector, such that said module controller isconfigured to be modified in accordance with said configuration codereceived from the dispenser controller to compatibly communicate withthe dispenser through the communication interface; and a transmittercoupled to said module controller; wherein when the dispenser actuatoris engaged said module controller detects the actuation signal from thedispenser controller as dispensing event data, and said transmittertransmits said dispensing event data to a monitoring station.
 16. Thehygiene compliance module of claim 15 further comprising: a receivercoupled to said module controller that is configured to receive anidentification code from a wireless data tag; wherein said controllerassociates said identification code of said data tag with saiddispensing event and transmits said identification code and saiddispensing event data to said monitoring station.
 17. The hygienecompliance module of claim 15, further comprising: an indicator coupledto said module controller, said indicator indicating when saididentification code has been authenticated.
 18. The hygiene compliancemodule of claim 15, further comprising: an indicator coupled to saidmodule controller, said indicator indicating when said dispensing eventhas been completed.